Commissioner's statement on questioned funds still awaited

A Madison County Commissioner has yet to
respond to allegations of missing grant funds.

A non-profit started by District 6
Commissioner Bob Harrison is at the center of those allegations. Huntsville
City Schools wants to know what happened to $40,000 awarded to the
organization.

At Wednesday's commission meeting, Harrison
once again said he had no comment regarding the allegations, at least for right
now. Harrison said he plans to release a statement on the matter next week.

Last week, Huntsville City Schools demanded a
forensic audit and handed the issue over to the state attorney general. At this
point, Harrison has not confirmed or denies the allegations.

Superintendent Dr. Casey Wardynski said this
is past being just an ethical issue; it is now a legal issue.

The issue centers around a grant issued in
2008 by Huntsville City Schools to the non-profit Northwest Huntsville
Community Services Organization - $40,000 in at-risk funds to tutor children.

Wardynski said the organization should not
have qualified for the grant because it went to a quasi-governmental agency,
with Commissioner Harrison at the head of it. He also points to the fact that it
was run out of District 6 offices and had employees on county payroll.

Huntsville school leaders unanimously voted
to approve a resolution requesting a forensic audit on the matter.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.